Fourth Meeting of the Working Group on Jurisdiction
From 13 to 17 February 2023, the Working Group on Matters Related to Jurisdiction in Transnational Civil or Commercial Litigation met for the fourth time. The meeting, held in hybrid format, was attended by 70 experts in total, of which 24 attended in person. The experts represented 24 Members and two Observers. Several staff members of the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH also attended the...
Fourth Meeting of the International Transfer of Maintenance Funds Experts’ Group
From 13 to 15 February 2023, the International Transfer of Maintenance Funds Experts’ Group (ITMFEG) met for the fourth time. The meeting, held online, was attended by 60 experts, representing 24 HCCH Members, one Observer as well as members of the Permanent Bureau. Pursuant to its mandate, the EG continued its work discussing good practices in relation to the cross-border...
Regional Conference – “The HCCH and the Relevance of its Work for Southern Africa”
On 7 and 8 February 2023, the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH has the pleasure of co-organising the Regional Conference “The HCCH and the relevance of its work for Southern Africa”, together with Finland and South Africa, with the participation of Namibia and Tanzania, as well as other Southern African Development Community (SADC) States, and hosted by the University of Pretoria (South...
Child Abduction Convention enters into force for Botswana
Today, 1 February 2023, the Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (1980 Child Abduction Convention) entered into force for the Republic of Botswana following the deposit of its instrument of accession on 14 November 2022. The 1980 Child Abduction Convention currently has 103 Contracting Parties. More information on this Convention is available on...
El Salvador accedes to the Evidence Convention
Today, 19 January 2023, the Republic of El Salvador deposited its instrument of accession to the Convention of 18 March 1970 on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters (1970 Evidence Convention). The ceremony was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, the Depositary of the HCCH Conventions. El Salvador was represented by H.E. Ms Carmen María...
Publication of the Second Edition of the Practical Handbook on the Operation of the Apostille Convention
The Permanent Bureau is pleased to announce the publication of the second edition of the Practical Handbook on the Operation of the Apostille Convention (Apostille Handbook). The Apostille Handbook, first published in 2013, provides guidance on the practical implementation and operation of the 1961 Apostille Convention, applied tens of millions of times every year to the benefit of individuals,...
Child Abduction Convention enters into force for Cabo Verde
On 1 January 2023, the Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (1980 Child Abduction Convention) entered into force for Cabo Verde following the deposit of its instrument of accession on 4 October 2022. The 1980 Child Abduction Convention currently has 103 Contracting Parties. More information on this Convention is available on the Child Abduction...
Publication of the Practitioners’ Tool: Cross-Border Recognition and Enforcement of Agreements Reached in the Course of Family Matters Involving Children
The Permanent Bureau is pleased to announce the publication of the Practitioners’ Tool: Cross-Border Recognition and Enforcement of Agreements Reached in the Course of Family Matters Involving Children (Practitioners’ Tool). The Practitioners’ Tool aims to explain how agreements made in the area of family law involving children (“family agreements”) can be made...
10th Anniversary of the HCCH Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Today, 13 December 2022, marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the HCCH Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP). With the endorsement of the HCCH Council on General Affairs and Policy, ROAP officially opened on 13 December 2012, thanks to the generous support of the Governments of the People’s Republic of China and Australia. Since then, ROAP has developed into a...
Apostille Convention enters into force for Saudi Arabia
Today, 7 December 2022, the Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (1961 Apostille Convention) entered into force for Saudi Arabia following the deposit of its instrument of accession on 8 April 2022. The 1961 Apostille Convention currently has 124 Contracting Parties. More information on this Convention is...